Record-controlled printing mechanism



Dec. 23, 1930. J. w. BRYCE RECORD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM FiledJune 6. 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet l awuantoz 64 t wide 61 mm awr Dec. 23,1930. J. w. BRYCE RECORD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM Filed June, 6,1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 5i O A MW W}; M! HF. HHEMM M\l w E h avwemtoz o wW- 64%. A 84 Hume/ 4 I 00-9711, MW

Dec. 23, 1930. J. w. BRYCE 1,785,999

RECORD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM Filed. June 6, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet3 FIGS.

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RECORD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM Filed June 6, 1928 7 Sheets-Sheet 5FIGB.

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i lll lll ll ll-fllll lllll l g; l I I avwentoz Dec. 23, 1930. J. w.BRYCE RECORD CONTROLLED PRINTING MECHANISM Filed June 6, 1928 7Sheets-Sheet 7 Patented Dec. 23, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE mm w.BRYCE, or Brooms-man, NEW Jnnsmr, ASSIGNOB TO ran ranum'rine incm comrm,ormtmcor'r, saw you, a conroaa'rion or NEW Jnnsmr nncoan-conrnornanrnm'rme uacnamsu Application filed June 6,

This invention relates to improvements in record controlled machines. Inthe use of such machines, printed records are frequently desired ofperforated data. At the present time it is the general practice to runthe record cards through such machines in such a manner that the variousdata columns upon the cards are concurrently sensed or analyzed. Withsome machines, each data column on the card is traversed by a singlebrush, which brush upon encountering a perforation in the column bringsabout the selection of a type carrier for the subsequent printing of acaracter re resenting the perorai-ion in the column. l i ith such formsof machines it is the general practice to utilize one type carrieremploying a plurality of type for each column and printing from thevarious type is effected simultaneously after they have been selectivelystopped at the printing position. It has also been proposed tosuccessively traverse the columns of a card under the single set ofsensing means and to print from each column successively andsequentially by a printing mechanism which is of the type; writer type.A device of this sort is shown in the'Reynolds U. S. Patent No.1,519,054. Such latter arrangement while affording greater simplicity inthe printing mechanism, secures such simplicity at the sacrifice of seed of operation. The loss of speed is due in part-to the fact thatthere is a successive sensing of all of the individual columns and asuccessive or uential printin of the data pertainingtoeac column. Wit,cards employing 45 or 80 columns of perforations, it will be obviousthat the speed of printin will be materially reduced over that obtainewith machines of the more conventional ty wherein only ten perforationshave to B: traversed and sensed successively in a articular column andwherein all columns 0 the record are sensed concurrently.

It is accordingly one of the objects of the present invention to providean improved record controlled rinting mechanism which is adapted to eect rinting with ater rapidity than is now 0 tainable with t e sac...

cessive type of printing machines and printing 1828. Serial No. 283,149.

is now obtainable with the machines of-the concurrent column reading tye. a It is further an object of vention to provide, for the speeding upof data derived from records -while maintaining comparative simplicityof the printin mechanism by provi ing, in a machine o the successivecolumn sensin and printing type, for multi le sensing an multipleprinting. Thus wit a 45 column record card traversed endwise ,orsuccessively across the columns, a multiplicity, say five sensincfimechanisms, may be. provided and for en. set of sensing elements therecan be a corresponding printing mechanism or set of printing elements.These printing elements are preferably of the typewriter type. With fiveof the anal zing or-sensing mechanisms and five sets 0 printingmechanisms, onl nine columns need be traversed of a 45 c0 umn card tosense and print the record from the entire 45-columns. .In this waygreater speed may be secured while the comparative simplicity of the tyewriter type of printing mechanism can retained. It will be apparentthat 50 type bars would be required in the illustrative example of thesimplified machine given above. Each type bar carries a single type andthe gain in simplicity will be apparent when it 1s considered that aconventional record controlled printing machine which concurrently readsand prints 45 columns would require 45 ty e carriers each with ten typeor a total 0 450 type. Such conventional machines would also reuire thenecessary ,hammer mechanism and like parts which would increasethenumber of parts to a further extent.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of arecord controlled printing machine which is adapt ed to control a oweractuated typewriter of the t pe whic em loys a constantly rotatingdi'iving shaft or impelling the type bars towards the ing strikeimpressions.-

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of anovel means for interpreting card records at a greater speed platen formaking printe present in and with a simpler mechanism than heretofore.Accordin to one embodiment of the invention the lnterpretation of theperforated data from the records is made upon a separate record sheetand in accordance with another embodiment of the invention theinterpretations are made upon the record card itself which contains theperforated data.

Further and other objects of the present invention reside in theprovision of an extremely simple record controlled printing machine,which machine contains less number of arts than machines heretofore inuse, taking into account the speed of operation of the machine, andwhich machine is cheaper, easier to manufacture and assemble thanprevious machines of equivalent performance.

A further object of the present invention resides in the provision of asimple machine which is better adapted for making manifold copies of theoriginal data from the perforated records.

Further objects of the present invention will be hereinafter set forthin the accompanying specification and claims and shown in the drawings,which by way of'illustration show what I now consider to be preferredembodiments of the invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of the complete machine.

Fig. 2 is a detail sectional view taken substantlally on line 2-2 ofFig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a front view of Fig. 2 with certain of the supporting frameparts removed.

Fig. 4 is a detail view showing the escapement mechanism takensubstantially on line 44 of Fig. 3 looking in the direction of thearrow.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of one of the con mutators which is used in themachine.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view of this commutator taken on line 66 ofFig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a detail view showing the paper feed mechanism.

Fig. 8 is a partial front view of a modification'in which the printingis eflect/ed directly upon the records containing the perforations.

Fig. 9 is a detail transverse sectional view of the parts shown in Fig.8.

Fig. 10 is a diagrammatic viewshowing the card feed for the mechanism ofFigs. 8 and 9, and

Fig. 11 is a circuit diagram of the embodiment shown in Fi s. 1 to 7inclusive.

In more detail, re erring to Fig. 1, 20 represents a continuously drivenmotor also shown in Fig. 11. This motor through suitable gearing drivesa card feed shaft 21 which in turn actuates a card picker 22 to ickcards from supply magazine 23 and deliver them endwise to feed rolls 24.The

feed rolls ultimately deliver the cards to a discharge stack 25, and asuitable stacker could be provided if desired.

Referring to Fig. 11, it will be noted that a plurality of sets ofsensing devices 26, 27,

28, 29, and 30 are provided. These sensing devices are disposed tocooperate with nonadjacent columns upon the record cards and to sensethe perforations therein. Each sensing device comprises sets of brusheswhich individually are adapted to pass through a perforation in the cardand establish contact with the common bars 31 which are disposed uponthe opposite side of the card. Current supplied to the common bars 31 isprovided by a conventional card lever contact generally designated 32 inFig. 11. From the individual brushes and the sets of sensing devices 26to 30 inclusive, cabled conductors 33 lead to and connect the brushesindividually to selector magnets 34. It will be understood that there isan individual selector magnet 34 for each of the brushes 26 to 30inclusive. Passing through the selector magnets 34 current flows tocommon return wires 35, 36, 37, 38 and 39. One common return wire isprovided for each set of selector magnets as shown and each return wireterminates in a brush 40 which cooperates with a selecting commutatorgenerally designated 41. The pur ose of these commutators will behereina ter described. In the circuit diagram, the commutators 41 areshown mounted on a vertical shaft 42 which is driven from the motor 20as shown. The operation of the commutators is accordingly in synchronismwith the card feed. In Fig. 1, the commutators 41 are disposed withinthe box 43 and are driven in synchronism with the card feed by thegearing 42a. The arrangement and timing of the commutators is such thatwhen the various sets of sensing elements 26 to 30 are on the firstpresented column of a record card, the commutator brushes are on thefirst bar of their respective commutators. When the card feed hasadvanced the cards relatively to the brushes so that the brushes are incooperation with the second or next adjacent sets of columns, thecommutator brushes are in cooperation with the second commutator barsand so on.

The typewriter printing unit which will hereinafter be later described,is provided with an electrically controlled escapement. The escapementcontrolling magnet is shown in the diagram at 45 and this magnet islikewise in a commutator circuit extending to a commutator 46. The brushof this commutator establishes contact with its segment when the sensingbrushes are in contact with the respective columns on the card. Therelative'timing of the commutators 41 and 46 is such that thecommutators 41 make their contact slightly in advance of the contactestablished by the escapement circuit.

It will b6 appreciated that if the record card has 45-transversecolumns, and 5 sets of sensing elements be'used, as shown, the completedata from the card will be derived therefrom in 9 columnar readin s. Toshut off the current to the brushes a ter the card has passed these 9columnar positions in an endwise direction a commutator 47 is providedlikewise timed with the card feed and arranged to break the circuitafter such nine columns have been traversed by the sensing brushes. Thecommutator 47'is in the nature of a safety device because it is obviousthat thecommutators 41 break the circuits at the same oint.

Re erring now to Figs. 2, 3 and 4, power driven t ewriters are wellknown wherein the actua printing strike movement of the type bars isefiected by power. One of the common forms of such typewriters comprisesa constantly rotating fluted shaft with rovisions for selectively couling the ty e ars thereto when it is desired to swing t e type bar forprinting. Such coupling has heretofore been effected by the usualtypewriter keys. Use is made of such a construction in the presentmachine.

Referrin to Fig. 2, is the usual platen. 51 is one o the type bars and52 is the constantly rotating fluted shaft. The typewriter platen ismounted in the conventional manner for step by step lateral movement. 53is the conventlonal escapement which is used for the platen. Thisescapement is actuated through the linkage generall designated 54 inFig. 4 from the fluted sha 52 in the conventional manner in which theescapement is gperated in such power driven typewriters.

he escapement is called into action by the escapement magnet 45- Fig. 4)which has previously been describe inconnection with a are coupled withthe fluted fihaftlz lector magnets 34 and eac the circuit diagram ofFig. 11.

Referring again to Fig. 2, the type bars 51 the energization of theselector magnets The armatures of these selector magnets res ectivelyconnect to the bars 55 which take t e place of the usual key bars of theordinary typewriter. Referrlng now to Fig. 1, it will be noted thatthetype bars 51 are arranged in sets. As shown in this figure there arefive sets of these type bars. The individual type bars are all operatedb the common fluted shaft 52, t e end of WhlCll shaft is shown in Figs.1 an 11, properly geared to the motor drive shaft.

With the above described construction it will be understood that therewill be simultaneous rintin from one bar of each of the five sets ifrequired. Each set of bars will be under the control of its res ectiveset of seset of selector magnets in turn is under control of itsrespective set of sensing devices and of the associated commutators 4LIn the embodiment illustrated, there will be nine such readings andactuations, during which nine actuations a total of 45 columns will beread from the card and the data printed. After one complete card recordhas een thus printed, a new card feeds into the sensin section of themachine and rovision is ma e for restoring the platen to its initialposition and for feeding the laten forward one step so as to present anew ine in osition to receive the data'from the next car 6 Referring toFigs. 1, 7 and 11, disposed adjacent the endof the platen is atransverse shaft provided with a box cam 61 and a paper feed cam 62.Shaft 60 is suitably platen 50 moves stepI by step to'the left as 1 11viewed in Fig. 11. the present embodi ment it would have nine such stepsof escapement movement. After such nine steps of escapement movementhave occurred the box cam 61 would enga e the follower roller 64 andcontinued rotation of the box cam would draw the platen 50 back to'theright to the initial or starting position shown. Durnfi the same time anew card is being advanc from thestack 23 to the readin position and thereviously read ,card is in During the proper time in the eye e cam 62Fig. 7, operates to advance the platen feed pawl 65 and through theratchet 66 spaces the paper one line.

As shown i the diagram, Fig. 11, there is a supplementary circuit 67including contact 68 adapted to be closed by the platen 50 when it is inextreme left position. This circuit is adapted to energize a magnet 69wh ch may actuate a card counter generally designated 70. In the dia amthere is also shown a main motor switch l which is closed when it isdesired to start the operation of the machine.

In the use of machines of this sort, it is sometimes desirable tosuppress printing from selected card column positions. "Useis ejected.

lum'n. By displacumn or columns in such inward position no circuit willbe established through any selector magnet 34, notwithstanding thepresence of a perforation in the card.

The previous description has referred to the printing of a record upon aseparate rec- 0rd strip or sheet 74 carried by the platen 50. The sametype of printing and controlling mechanism can also be employed in otherembodiments of the invention for example, in a machine wherein it isdesired to print on the record cards themselves a character or series ofcharacters which are representative of the perforations in the card.Sets of type bars 51 are utilized as before.

Referring to Fig. 10. the record cards are individually fed from a stack23 by a picker 22, which picker is operated in any suitable manner froma motor driven shaft. As the cards are individually advanced from themagazine 23 by the picker. they are gripped by a suitable gripper 75.They are fed forward first with a rapid movement to bring them intosensing and print receiving position. .This is effected by a cam andlink motion generally designated 76, 77. Suitable brushes or sets ofsensing devices 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30 are provided as before and alsocommon bars 31. The disposition of the sets of type bars 51 with respectto the card under the sensing brushes is such that the various type barscan print directly upon the card. As each set of printing impressionsare taken the advance of cam 77 permits the card to make one incrementof advance to the next column. After the card has received a printedinterpretation of all the data perforated thereon the cam 77 through thelinkage draws the card over and deposits it into a discharge stack 78.The gripper operating mechanism is of conventional type and requiresnode tailed description. The circuits for controlling the variousoperations are the same as those given for the embodiment shown in Figs.1 and 11.

While it will be obvious that various supplementary controls and safetydevices could be provided I have herein described the es sentials of themachine for simplicity and clarity of the description.

According to the present invention a power actuated card feeding deviceis provided which is adapted to successively feed card records endwise,that is to say, in successive transverse columnar manner under aplurality of sets of sensing means which are relative y spaced apart.Coordinated with and controlled by the respective sets of sensing meansare a plurality of sets of typewriter type printing devices. Each set ofthese printing devices can be considered to be the ten numeral type barsof a power actuated t ewriter. All of the various type bars 0 all of thesets are preferably actuated from a. common driving member such as afluted shaft and the selection of the ty e bars for actuation by theshaft is efiecte preferably electromagnetically under the control of thesensing means. Each set of sensing means controls its corresponding setof printing type bars. The disposition of the parts is such thatsimultaneous printing can be effected of the data from a plurality ofcolulnns after which a new columnar relation of the sensing device andrecord is effected. Thereafter there is another simultaneous printingaction by the different set of printing devices followedbyafurthercolumn shifting action and so on until the record is completely printed.Means are also provided for feeding the record sheet one line space (inthe embodiment where a separate record sheet is used) and for restoringthe platen to the initial position. The old and completely sensed recordis automatically fed out from the sensing means and the new record isintroduced after which further recording is effected. According toanother embodiment of the invention, printing is effected in a similarmanner upon the record card itself and sensing is simultaneouslyeffected by a plurality of sets of sensing elements. Provision isfurthermore made for suppressing printin; in any desired column.

In the foregoing description no reference has been made to the machinespeed at different points of a single card cycle. It may be explainedthat the speed of operation during actual printing has a certain upperlimit which cannot be exceeded. The speed of o eration at other parts ofthe cycle may e vastly greater. Such time in the cycle is merely takenup with the introducing of a new card to initial sensing position, theremoval of the old card the feeding of the paper and the return oftheplaten carriage.

Various methods may be employed for obtaining such increased speedduring this art of the cycle; One method is indicate in thecircuitdiagram, Fig. 11, wherein the circuit to motor 20 includes aresistance 80 which is adapted to be thrown into the circuit by shuntcontacts 81 which are actuated by cam 82 timed with respect to the cardcycle in any desired manner as by being mounted upon shaft 52 or anyother cyclic shaft of the machine. It will be understood that when thecard is passing through the various analyzing positions in whichprinting is being effected the contact 81 will. open, placing resistance80 in the motor circuit (the motor may be of series type). Afterprinting is completed contacts 81 will close permitting the speeding upof the motor and the attendant speeding up of the operation durin thefeeding and carriage return portion 0 the cycle.

It will be obvious that other methods of obtaining increased machinespeed during the parts of the cycle which are potentially capable ofbeing fast may be used, but the foregoing illustrates one manner ofaccomplishing this result.

What I claim is:

1. A record controlled apparatus including a plurality of sets ofsensing means adapted for cooperation with perforated cards which aremovable transversely of the columns thereof, a plurality of typewritertype sets of printing devices each comprising a group of type bars andeach coordinated with a set of sensing means and controlled thereby,means for feeding the cards column by column to the multiple sets ofsensing means, and means for effecting printing operations of thevarious type bars in the sets under the control of the said sensingmeans.

2. A record controlled machine in luding means for concurrently sensinga multiplicity of non-adjacent columns of a record card, means forconcurrently printing in non-adjacent columnar positions the record datasensed by the aforesaid sensing means, and means for thereafterestablishing a new columnar relation of the record card and the multiplesensing means and a new columnar relation of the record which receivesthe printing data with respect to the printing means.

3. The invention set forth in claim 2 in which the printing meanscomprises a plurality of sets of type bars, each type bar being of thestriking type bar type, and in which a common rotary actuator 1s rovidedfor actuating the aforesaid type ars for striking movement...

4. The invention set forth in claim 2 in which the printing means comrises a plurality of printing devices, eac device including a set ofstriking type bars of the typewriter type with a common fluted actuatorfor operating all of the type bars of the various devices, and withselecting mechanism controlled by the sensing means for selectivelycoupling various type bars to the said actuator and for simultaneouslycoupling bars in various devices to the actuator when required.

5. A record controlled machine with record feeding means, a typewriterformed ofprinting mechanism comprising a plurality of type bar sets witha common fluted actuator for operating all of the bars in said varioussets, and operating means for operating the record feeding means andsaid fluted actuator, multiple column record sensing means comprisinsets of sensing means for varlous record carfi columns, and selectingmeans controlled thereby for coupling the type bars with the actuator.

6. A record controlled printing machine with means for concurrentlysensing a plurality of non-adjacent columns of a perforated record,means under the control of the aforesaid means for concurrentlyeffecting printin of records corresponding to the sensed ata in saidnon-adjacent columns, said printin being correspondingly effected innon-ad]acent columns, means for establishing new sensing relationsbetween the sensing means and the record to cause the former to sense afurther plurality of non-adjacent columns which are relatively adjacentto the previously sensed columns, and means for correspondinglyreestablishing the same kind of columnar relations between the printingmeans and the record which is being printed upon whereb printing of thecomplete record may be e acted by a series of printing impressions whichare simultaneous followed successively by another series of simultaneousprinting impressions.

7. A record controlled interpreting machine comprising in combinationwith multiple sets of sensing instrumentalities, for concurrentlysensing non-adjacent columns upon a record, and multiple sets ofprinting devices for simultaneously printing upon the perforated recordthe representations of the readings taken from that record by thesensing devices.

8. A record card interpretin machine comprising printing mechanism 0 thetypewriter ar type with individual printing type upon individual typebars,a record sensing means for sensing the perforations of arecordnneans controlled by the sensing means for selectively controllingthe printing strike action of the typewriter printing mechanism to causethe printing mechanism to print upon the record containing the data arepresentation of such perforated data.- 9. The invention set forth inclaim 8 in which power driven card feeding devices are provided forsuccessively advancing the card to presenta new column to the sensingmechanism and a new zone of the card to receive the printed impressionfrom the striking type bars of the printing mechanism.

10. A record controlled printing machine including a series of printingdevices each of the typewriter type and with the individual numeral typebars, said various printing devices being adapted to print in a singleline upon a' record the various non-adjacent columns simultaneously, aseries of sets of sensing devices for controlling the selection of thetype bars for printing strike operations, and means associated with thesets of printing mechanisms for selectively suppressing printing actionin any desired columns.

11. A record controlled machine having a plurality of sets of sensingdevices for concurrently sensing various sets of perforations of arecord which are disposed in different zones, card feeding devices forfeeding record cards successively to said sensing means, and means forproviding a variable card speed to trav erse the card under theplurality of sensing devices at one speed to cause the concurrentsensing of various sets of perforations by the sensing means and totraverse the card in other positions in its cycle when sensing is notbeing effected by the sensing devices at another speed so that the cardmay be rapidly brought to the sets of sensing devices and thereaftersensed by the motion of the card past the sensing devices.

In testimony whereof I he'retoaflix my sig nature.

JAMES W. BRYCE.

sensing of various sets of perforations by the sensing means and totraverse the card in other ositions in its cycle when sensing is notbeing effected by the sensing devices at another speed so that the cardmay be rapidly brought to the sets of sensing devices and thereaftersensed by the motion of the card past the sensing devices.

In testimony whereof I hereto afiix my signature.

JAMES W. BRYCE.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,785,999. Granted December 23, 1930, to

JAMES W. BRYCE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1,line 50, before the word "reading" insert the word column; and that thesaid Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of January, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore,

(Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent No. 1,785,999. Granted December 23, 1930, to

JAMES W. BRYCE.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specificationof the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: Page 1,line 50, before the word "reading" insert the word column; and that thesaid Letters Patent should be read with this correction therein that thesame may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 27th day of January, A. D. 1931.

M. J. Moore, (Seal) Acting Commissioner of Patents.

